Rockville in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Jerusalem - Mt. Pleasant Church and Parsonage
Location: 21 and 17 Wood Lane
| | Rockville's African American Heritage Walking Tour | |
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 4, 2021
1. Jerusalem - Mt. Pleasant Church and Parsonage Marker
Racial tensions between African-American and white Methodist church members peaked immediately before the Civil War. Pro-slavery parishioners joined the Methodist Episcopal Church South in 1863. White parishioners of the Rockville Methodist Episcopal Church entered the front door to sit in the sanctuary, while African-Americans used a separate entrance and sat upstairs in the gallery. Some African-American worshipers listened outside from the windows. By 1868, the African-Americans owned this property and renamed their church "Jerusalem."
The church was substantially rebuilt in 1892 and for several years housed Rockville's African-American students after the elementary school burned. It was the site of graduation ceremonies for African-American schools through the 1950s and is also where the Montgomery County branch of the NAACP was organized in 1937.
The Parsonage was built in 1912 from trees harvested by the congregation at a church-owned lot in Poolesville. It continued as a parsonage until 1986 when the church purchased a new parsonage. It then became Cordelia House, a woman's resource center. In 1999, Cordelia House was damaged by fire caused by arson. It was extensively restored in 2005 and is in use today. These two buildings are among the few remaining historic church and parsonage units left in
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Erected by City of Rockville, Historic District Commission, Department of Community Planning and Development Services. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Rockville's African American Heritage Walking Tour series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.
Location. 39° 5.153′ N, 77° 9.226′ W. Marker is in Rockville, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is on Wood Lane just west of North Washington Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21 Wood Ln, Rockville MD 20850, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Hebron House and Print Shop (a few steps from this marker); Rockville Methodist Episcopal Church - Jerusalem Mount Pleasant United United Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Galilean Temple (within shouting distance of this marker); Enslaved to Soldier (within shouting
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 4, 2021
2. Jerusalem - Mt. Pleasant Church and Parsonage Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. Jerusalem - Mt. Pleasant Church and Parsonage (has been replaced with this marker); Rockville Methodist Episcopal Church - Jerusalem / Mount Pleasant (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Hebron House and Print Shop (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Galilean Temple (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Mr. Ts (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Higgins House (was about 400 feet away but has been confirmed missing); North Adams Street and Middle Lane Residential Area (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); Rockville's First Colored School / Rockville's Second Colored School (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 519 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
